Device for controlling the injection of fluids



5- 5. BROWN March 6, 1951 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE INJECTION 0F FLUIDS Filed March 30, 1949 Check Valve Check Valve Suction WW my Stephen S. Bro wn IIVGITOR Patented M... s, 1951 'l'he, prment invention is directed to a device. for-post onin the rate offlow of onefluid into another. More particularly, the invention is .directed to: a, device for varying therate of flow of one fluid into a system or conduit adapted to ceiv t e'fl fid- 1., a

Q In'many industrial operations wherein chemicalsare employed, it is to inject the chemicals into a closed-system at a controlled rate of flow. For example. in oil well drilling operations, it isfrequently desirableto pump certain chemicals. into conduitsto condition drilling fluids andtocontrol corrosion in well conduits and the like. The amount of chemicals employed may be very small compared to the, amount of drillin fluid employed in the drilling p o v p In other operations, such as chemical refining of petroleum, catalytic conversion operations. such as isomeriaatiom and the like, it is frequently. necessary to inject small and controlled quantities of chemicals into the system wherein h mewd- The injection of such small quantities of chemicals has beenperformed in thepast byemploying chemical injectors which are miniature] pumps; the amount. of chemicals being pumped is varied by controlling the strike. of the piston through mechanical linkages. I Such devices have been largely unsatisfactory dueto lost motionin the mechanical linkages. which make for inaccurate measurements and also delayed "injection of chemicals. Proper and close adjustment of chemical injectors constitutes a problem of long standing in the industry.

It is,jtherefore. the mainobject of the pres 5 sanction cou'mo lloustomfleng assignoi', by i an r D p merit Company, Elizabeth, N, J., a corporation mm; II

g amme r i l m nim 30. 1949, SerialNo. 84,387

omma ilcl. roe-'37) I ber to bevariedat will. Apassageway in .the-

chamber allows venting of any air which maybev trapped therein. The chamberis also provided with a movable member which may be a dia-' phragm or a sphere having a specific gravity suflicientto float in the liquid being injected,

the diaphragm or sphere being adapted to as sume first and second positions such that when the liquid is being pumped. thediaphragm orsphere is in the second position and when liquid is being drawn into the cylinder, the diaphragm or sphere is in afirst position, the rise 01' the. diaphragm or sphere being adjusted 'by an ad-, justable plug whichvaries the volume of ,thecylinder and, therefore, limits the rise of the 1 diaphragm or sphere 'as the case may be.

ent'invention to provide an improved device I wherein controlled and varied amounts of fluids may be injected into a system.

Another objecti'of the present invention is to provide an improved device wherein the mechanical linkages in an" injector are eliminated.

' The present invention may. be described briefly I as embodying a cylinder adapted, to receive a movable piston... The. cylinder is connected by suitable. valves and conduits to, .a source of a fluid'ltofbe'injected and to t e system into which the fiuidfis to be injected. ,Mou'nted onjand in fluid communication with t e z linder containin fthe iiistoni a .p amberw n ay e disp sedon the cylinderina vertical or horizontal. position o1 other position depending on the typejofhmovable member femployedas will be describei ,QThefchamber comprises an adjustingjmeans which allows the volume of the cham- I The invention will be better understood and the objects -thereof' illustrated byreferencefto' the drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevationin .partialfsece tion of a device employing a sphere as the movable member, and I I I Y t Figure 2 is a preferred form .of .the present, invention wherein a diaphragm is employed as.

the'movable member.

Referring now to'the drawing and specifically I to Fig.- 1, numeral I [designates a cylinder'which is provided with yclosure members I 2. Cylinder I i is pr'ovidedwith, an inlet i 3 including a conventional check .valve and an outlet I, also ineluding a conventional check valve. Inlet" la; connects to a suitable. source of liquid to be pumped, not shown," and outlet connects to.

the system into which 'the liquid is to be injected. A piston member I5 is arranged towmove. inwardly to and outwardly from cylinder H Y through a stuiiing box l6, piston l5 being con nected to a source of power, not shown, to cause longitudinal movement of the piston l5 Arranged in a vertical position on cylinder II is a bodymember, l1 defining achamber l8. Body II is provided with internal threads de,-

signed to cooperate with the external threads of an adjusting plug l9 which is threadably engagedtherewith. Adjusting plug l9 provides an adjusting means and defines a movable seat 20 and a passageway 2! which provides fluid com-- municationbetweenchamber l8 and the atmosphere. .A suitable wheel 22 is made an integral part of plug I9 to allow the raising and lowering thereof. The lower portion of body member I! is in the form of a-movableseat23 which is threadably engaged'with the internal threads of body I member 'll. Arranged in chamber [8 is aspherical member 24 which isconstructed. ofsuitable material such that it has a specific gravity which will allow it to float freely in liquid which is drawn into the chamber l3.

Thus, it can be seen that the device consists vspherical member which may be seated either against the top seat or the bottom seat as willbe seen from the description of the operation of the device.

Assume that a suitable liquid is to be drawn into the apparatus of the present invention through inlet l3 and injected into a system through outlet |4, it will be seen that on the discharge stroke of the piston i5 liquid will rise in the chamber l8 carrying with it the spherical member 24 before any fluid can overcome the resistance of the check valve in conduit |4. As the liquid rises in the chamber l8 carrying the spherical member 24 upwardly, any air in the chamber I8 is forced out through passageway 2|. Upon reaching the seat the spherical member 24 seats therein allowing pressure to be built up in cylinder II which causes the discharge check valve in outlet 14 to open allowing liquid to be injected or pumped into the system connected to outlet |4. On the suction stroke, as the piston I5 is withdrawn from the cylinder II, the liquid in chamber l8 drains into the cylinder until the spherical member 24 has seated on seat 23 thus sealing the chamber l3 from the cylinder ll. Continuation of the suction stroke of piston it pulls the check valve in inlet line l3 open allowing liquid from the source of liquid connected to inlet i3 to enter cylinder Thus, by manipulating wheel 22 adjusting plug I! may be lowered to the bottom of the chamber i8 and fluid can be kept out of this chamber entirely thus injecting into the system connected to outlet an amount of fluid equal to the full displacement of the piston I! on the discharge stroke. By moving the plugls upwardly, an increased volume can be received in the chamber l8 thus reducing the amount injected into the system connected to outlet i4 by the volume available in chamber It. The plug may be raised to a point where the volume of chamber I3 is equal to or greater than the full displacement of piston l5, resulting in the pumping of no fluid at all on the discharge stroke of piston i5. Thus, it may be seen that the device gives a variable control of the amount injected between the limits of zero and full piston displacement.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a preferred embodi-.

ment of my device will be described in which a diaphragm is substituted for the spherical member 24. The device of Fig. 2 is adapted to be arranged on a cylinder II as shown in Fig. 1, and, therefore, the description of the cylinder II and its appurtenances includingv piston I 5 need not be repeated here. The device of Fig. 2 includes a body member defining a chamber 3| in which is arranged a diaphragm 32 which is seated in a flange by constructing body member 30 in two. parts, the two parts of body member 30 defining the chamber 3| and being held together by threaded bolts 33, the bolts 33 being engaged'with recesses in body member 30. The body member 30 may be arranged vertically,

4 II. In this instance, it is preferred to arrange member 30 in a horizontal position. Arranged below the diaphragm 32 and resting on an internal shoulder 24 of body 30 is a seating disc 35 which defines a plurality of passageways 36 allowing fluid communication between the diaphragm and cylinder through port 31 defined by body member 33. Port 31 is internally threaded and may be screwed into a nipple (not shown) which may be welded on cylinder i Body member 30 defines a passageway 33 communicating the portion of chamber 3| below diaphragm 32 with the atmosphere. Passageway 38 is provided with a valve 33 to allow bleeding of any air which may be trapped below diaphragm 32 and seating disc 33. In the upper portion of body member 30 is a second passageway 40 which allows venting to the atmosphere of any air which may be trapped above diaphragm 32.

Arranged above diaphragm 32 is a spring loaded returning disc 4| which is provided with a recessed space 42 into which bears a spring or tension means 43. The upper end of spring or tension means 43 bears against an internal shoulder 44 defined by the upper portion of body member 30. Bearing against the spring loaded returning disc 4| is a controllable stop screw 45 which is provided with external threads 46 which cooperate with internal threads defined by the upper portion of body member 30. The controllable stop screw 45 is provided with a. control wheel 4i which is arranged thereon by a nut 41. A look nut 48 forms a closure through which the stop screw may. be manipulated. Control wheel 46 is provided with a calibration pointer 43 which may be calibrated in terms of the amount of liquid to be injected by the device as will be described further. a

It will be seen from the foregoing description of Fig. 2 that the preferred embodiment consists of a chamber defined by body member 30 mounted the fluid cylinder ll of a suitable pump or injector. This chamber contains a diaphragm 32, a stop screw 43, a spring loaded returning disc 4|, and a diaphragm seating disc 35. The device of Fig.2 is to be preferred over the device of Fig. 1 since the possible diiliculties of obtaining complete sealing of liquid by the spherical member 24 are eliminated in this embodiment of my invention.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention may be described as follows: On the discharge stroke of the, piston l5 liquid rises under the diaphragm forcing the diaphragm upward until the returning disc 4| on top of the diaphragm seats againstthe controllable stop screw 45. Since no more volume for expansion is avaflable under the diaphragm after the disc 4| is seated on the screw 45, the remainder of the liquid displaced by the incoming piston IE will be injected or pumped out of the cylinder through outlet |4 because the rise in pressure will force the check valve in 'outlet |4 open. On the suction stroke as the piston I5 is withdrawn from cylinder fluid under the diaphragm drains into the cylinder II and the diaphragm is forced downward by the action of spring 43 on the spring loaded returning disc 4|. This action continues until all of the liquid beneath the diaphragm has entered the cylinder II and the diaphragm has been seated on seating disc 35. Continued withdrawl of the piston l5 from the cylinder opens the valve in inlet l3 and a volume of liquid is drawn into the cylinder horizontally or in any other position on cylinder 7; equivalent to the remaining displacement of the ass'aaas piston. q screw 45, the volume beneath the diaphragm at withdrawing the'controllable stop in said cylinder, aninlet outlet line fromsaid cylinder, said inletand outlet line's its; full extension may be increased; by extending the controllable stop screw 45, the volume may be decreased. Sincethe pump injects out of the cylinder ll an amount of fluid equal in volume to the difference between the full piston dis-f placement and the volume beneath the diaphragm-32, a direct control oi the amount of liquid pumped can be obtained infinitely variable between the limits of zero and fullpiston displacement. j

The operation of the present device will be further illustrated by the following example in which a device similar to the embodiment of Fig. 2 was placed on a chemical pump having a V4 inch piston with a 2 inch stroke. Witha pump speed set at 40 strokes per minute, it has been possible to vary the pumping rate from to approximately 18 gallons per day. It has also been possible to pump liquid with an accuracy of less than 1 pint per day.

By providing a scale on the calibration pointer 49, it may be possible to set the controllable stop screw 45 to pump at any rate by simple manipulation of control wheel 48.

The spherical member 24 of the device of Figure 1 should be suitably constructed of construction materials that will allow the spherical member 24 to float in the liquids being pumped. For

example when pumping aqueous solutions, or-- ganic solutions, liquids containing corrosion inhibitors, and the like, the spherical membermay be constructed of wood, resins, polymerssuch as tetrafluro ethylene, and the like.

In the device of Fig. 2, it will be desirable to construct the diaphragm 32 of materials which will allow it to flex andto contract with the movement of the piston Ii. Construction materials of synthetic rubber, such as a butadienestyrene polymer, stainless steel in thin sheets,

impregnated canvas, rubbery materials, and the like may be employed when pumping chemicals such as aqueous solutions, organic liquids such as aromatic solutions of wetting agents, soaps, and solutions containing corrosion inhibitors,

. and the like.

The device of the present invention may be applied to any type of reciprocating chemical injection device by modifying the injection device by providing a chamber disposed on each of the cylinders of the reciprocating device to control the amount of fluid injected from each cylinder. Thus, a chemical injection device of the duplex or triplex type may be modified in accordance with the present invention by providing a plurality ofchambers with one arranged on each of the cylinders thereof.

As mentioned before the chamber mounted on the cylindenmay be arranged thereon in a vertical, horizontal or any other position allowing free access of liquid thereto and allowing free a drainage of liquid therefrom. When the movable member is a sphere, it will be necessary to mount the chamber vertically to the cylinder whereas when the movable member is a diaphragm it may be desirable to arrange it in a horizontal position on the cylinder.

The nature and objects of the present invention having'been completely described and illustrated what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:.

1. Adevice for injecting liquids at a controllable rate into a system which comprises, in combina--- tion, a cylinder, a piston arranged in and movable comprising check valves permitting flow into and outwardly from said cylinder, a body member defining a chamber mounted on and in fluid communications with said cylinder, adjusting means arranged insaid body defining a first seating member and adapted to vary the volume of said chamber, a passageway defined by said body member adapted for fluidly communicating said chamber withthe atmosphere, a movable valve member in said chamber adapted ,to assume a first and second position and to be received by said first seating member when in the second position, a second seating member arranged in said chamber below said movable member and adapted to receive said movable member when in the first position, the secondposition of said movable member being determined by the position of the adjusting means and the first position of said movable member being determined by the position of said second seating member. 1

2. A device for injecting liquidsat a controllable rate into a system which comprises, in combination, an assembly including a cylinder, a body member defining a chamber mounted on and in fluid communication with said cylinder and an ceived by said first seating member when in the in fluid communication with said cylinder, a disc second position; a second seating member arranged in said chamber adapted to receive said movable member when in the second position,

the second position of saidmovable member being determined by the position of the adjusting means and the first position of said movable member being determined by the position of said secon seating member.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the movable member is a diaphragm.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the movable member is a sphere having a specific gravity sufllcient to float in the liquid being injected.

5. A device for injecting liquids ata controllable rate into a system which comprises, in combination, a cylinder, a piston arranged in and movable in said cylinder, an inlet line to and an outlet line from said cylinder, said inlet and outlet lines comprising check valves permitting liquid flow into and outwardlyjrom said cylinder, a body member defining a chamber mounted on and member arranged in said body and adapted to vary the volume of said chamber, tension means bearing against said disc member and against an internal shoulder defined by said body member, a stop screw adapted for raising and lowering said disc member, a passageway defined by said body member adapted for fluidly communicating said 7 chamber with the atmosphere, a diaphragm arranged in said chamber below said disc member and adapted to assume a first and second position, a seatingdlsc arranged 'in said chamber below said diaphragm and adapted to receive said diaphragm, the second position oi said diaphragm the seating disc definesa plurality or passageways fluidly communicating said diaphragm with said cylinder; v

,7. A device ior injecting liquids at'a controllable rate into asystcm which comprises, in com-' bination, a 'cylindena piston arranged in and I movable in said cylinder, an inletlineto and outlet line from said cylinder, said inlet and outlet lines comprising check valves permitting liquid fiow to and outwardly from said cylinder, a body member defining a chamber-mounted on and in fluid communication'with said cylinder, an adjusting means defining a first seating member arranged in said body and adapted to vary the volume oi saidchamber and to receive a spherical member, a passageway defined by said adjusting means adapted for fluidly communicating said chamber with the atmosphere, a spherical member in said chamber adapted to assume a first and second position and to be received by said first seating member when in the second position, a second seating member arranged in said chamber below said spherical member and adapted to receive said spherical member whenin the first position, the second position of said movable member being determined'by the position or the first seating member defined f by the adjusting means and the first position of said movable member being determined by the second seating member arranged below said spherical member.

8. A device in accordance with claim? in which the adjusting f member defines an externally threaded adjusting plug which cooperates with internal threads on said body member.

STEPHEN 8. BROWN.

. REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- nNrrEn STATES PATENTS Name Date 957,451 Willet May 10, 1910 1,325,102 Matthews Dec. 16, 1919 2,038,311 Parsons Apr. 21, 1936 Number 

